Asking price for Buzzy's Ranch: $7.5 million

A citizens panel is being asked to recommend that Carson City purchase the land known as Buzzy's Ranch for $7.5 million.

Members of the Open Space Advisory Committee will consider the matter during a meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday.

This property is north of Silver Saddle Ranch and south of Riverview Park. It's a big-ticket purchase for which the city has long prepared.

Buzzy's is one of the last, large agricultural sites in the city. It's within a flood plain, but has been eyed for development for years.

"We have sufficient money for this transaction," said Juan Guzman, the city's open space manager. "But we'll really have to slow down on acquisitions."

Appraised worth is $3.5 million for the Andersen parcel and $4 million for the Jarrard property, Guzman said.

In 2004, when Buzzy's was last appraised, the 86-acre Andersen property was worth $625,000 while the 397-acre Jarrard portion was valued at $1.8 million.

Guzman said grants and other money are being pursued to help Carson City pay for the land. For example, $300,000 is expected from the state to offset the cost of Andersen but the city will increase it's grant request amount to $1.75 million.

Buzzy's provides within its borders wetland, wet meadow and riparian habitat. While it supports a variety of creatures and plant life, it's especially important to birds because the river there maintains trees and willows they need to survive.

It's possible the city would end up not purchasing all of the land for sale. A 25-acre section of Jarrard land, near Pinion Hills, is being sought by another party, he said.

The Board of Supervisors will decide whether the purchase is viable and take the citizens committee finding into account.

Money for these types of purchases comes from a source independent of most other city expenses and operations: A tax approved by voters in 1996 called Question 18, the Quality-of-Life Initiative. The initiative also funds parks and recreation improvements and maintenance on those facilities created under the open space program.

Water rights on Buzzy's Ranch are going to be sold separately by the Andersen and Jarrard families. Vidler Water Company is negotiating the sale of up to 1,000 acre feet of water a year to Landmark Communities in Dayton and plans to build infrastructure stretching from Buzzy's Ranch to Dayton.

The pipe also would be used to help Carson and Lyon County deliver water to their residents.

Water removed from Buzzy's would be replaced with treated effluent from Brunswick Reservoir, which is leaking.

If the separate water deal doesn't go through, the families would be able to sell the water rights to someone else - even the city, he added.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

If you go

WHAT: Open Space Advisory Committee

WHEN: 6 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Sierra Room, Community Center, 851 E. William St.